Shoe-stretcher.



CJG. MARKER.

SHOE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, I916.

l ,2%9,99& Patented June 12, 1917. v

2 $HEETSSHEET I.

C. G. MARKER. SHQE STRETCHER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. I916 mwww.

Patented J 11116 12, 1917.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

CHARLES G. MARKER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SHOE-STRETCHER.

reasons.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1911?.

Application filed February 5, 1916. Serial No. 76,433.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. MARKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Zolorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Stretchers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in shoe-stretchers, and theobject is to provide a simple device of the character mentioned, whichmay be accommodated to various sizes of shoes, provision being made forremovable and interchangeable parts, and which may be adjusted and havethe desired application of power for stretching the shoe eitherlengthwise or widthwise, or both, after which the means for applying thepower or pressure may be entirely removed.

With the foregoing in view, this invention comprises a frame, asectional last detachably connected with the frame, thereby admitting ofinterchangeability of lasts, a heel-plate, detachable means foreffecting an endwise movement of the heel-plate, and also of a spreader,whereby the shoe can be lengthened or stretched endwise, and broadenedor stretched widthwise, or both, and means for automatically locking thestretcher in the adjusted position.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, with a side of the frame removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view;

Fig. 4c is a transverse section;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the last sections and the forwardend of the stretcher;

Fig. 6 is a detached view of the heel-plate and rack;

Fig. 7 is a detached view of the last spreader and rack;

Fig. 8 is a view of the hook on the rear of the last sections;

Fig. 9 is a View in perspective of the op erating lever; and Figs. 10and 11 are views of modified forms showing the arrangement of applyingpatches to the last in order to give additional pressure to certainparts of the shoe.

A, represents the frame, preferably made of sheet-metal, and bent toform a bottom and two sides. Three pins, namely 1, 2 and 3 extend acrossfrom one side of the frame to the other, they having their ends upset tohold them securely in place. Fitted within the bottom and adapted toslide thereon are the two ratchet-toothed bars 1 and 5, one of which isdivided through the center to form two parts which straddle theratchet-twthed bar 5, forming lateral guides therefor. The teeth ofthese bars extend in opposite directions. Bar 5 enters the frame throughslide 5. To the rear end thereof, a curved heelplate 6 is secured, itbeing adapted to fit and press within the heel of the shoe.

The forward end of the divided ratchettoothed bar 4; terminates in arouiuled and somewhat elevated tongue 7.

Gravity pawls 8 and 9 are pivoted on the pin 2, their lower ends restingupon the ratchet-teeth a and 5 respectively, and acting to automaticallylock the bars in their outwardly adjusted position.

The last is made in two half sections 10 and 11 of corresponding sizeand shape, the division between them being vertically through thelongitudinal center, and when together forming an ordinary shaped toelast, they being adapted to enter and fit the toe of the shoe. Thesesections are provided with cavities 12 and 13 at the rear, the forwardends of which are provided with the cam inclines 14, 14, in position tobe engaged by the forward end of the tongue 7, which, when forcedforward by crowding against the cam inclines 14, 14, acts to spread thetoe-last to stretch the shoe widthwise.

The inner faces of the rear upper ends of the last sections are roundedas at 15 to admit of this spreading.

Right-angular hook-plates l6, l6, (illustrated in perspective in Fig. 8)are shown in the angles formed in the rear ends of the last-sections,they being adapted to be removably hooked over the pin 1 at the forwardend of the frame, thus admitting of interchangeability of last-sections,accord ing to the size required for the particular shoe to be stretched.

A hand-lever 18 is provided with notches 19 and 20 and V-shaped claws 21and 22 at its opposite ends, the notches being adapted to receive andadmit of fulcruming on the pin 3, and the claws being adapted to take inthe teeth of the racks, the divided wider claw 21 operating on the rack1in one di rection, and the smaller one on rack 5 in the oppositedirection, they being placed respectively on opposite sides of the pin3, ac-

cordingly as they are to move the racks l or 5, and upon which the leveris turned as a fulcrum.

It is obvious that all these parts might be in various sizes; also thatthe last-sections may be easily removed and replaced or interchanged asto size; and likewise that when removed, the racks may be withdrawn fromthe frame by pulling them outwardly in opposite directions and differentsizes of racks substituted if desired, the last-sections when in placepreventing the removal. of the divided rack 1-.

By using the back ratchet 5, the fore part may be forced into theextreme end of the shoe and the boxing raised or spread as desired,while if the shoe requires stretchingin width alone and not in length,the last may be pushed forward with the back ratchet 5 before spreadingthe lasts 10, 11, it remaining in exact position, due to the fact thatthe back ratchet prevents its slipping back.

I claim:

1. A shoe-stretcher comprising a frame, substantially U-shaped incross-section, last sections secured to said frame, a heel portionslidably mounted in said frame, and a step by step mechanism slidablymounted in said frame for spreading said last-sections or operating saidheel portion.

2. As an article of manufacture, a shoestretcher comprising a U-shapedframe, lateral braces therefor, last-sections detachably mounted uponone of said braces, removable rack-bars slidably mounted in said frame,

and a detachable member adapted to cooperate with said rack bars and oneof said lateral braces to spread said last-sections with a step by stepmovement.

3. As an article of manufacture, a shoestretcher comprising a U-shapedframe, lateral braces therefor, last-sections detachably mounted uponone of said braces, removable rack-bars slidably mounted in said frame,a detachable member adapted to cooperate with said rack bars and one ofsaid lateral braces to spread said last-sections with a step by stepmovement, and a heel-plate on one of said rack-bars operated through thecooperation between said detachable member and said lateral braces.

f. A shoestretcher comprising a frame having parallel edges, lateralbraces be tween said edges, last-sections, and rightangular hook-platesfastened to each of said sections, and provided each with a notch, thelast-sections so arranged as to normally hook vertically upon one ofsaid lateral braces, said parts being engaged by the notches in saidright-angular plates, said hook-plates being normally in planessubstantially parallel with said sides.

5. The combination with a frame having pins thereacross, and tworack-bars fitted in the bottom of the frame and slidable therein fromopposite directions, one having a heel-plate, and the other a roundedtongue at the end, of removable last-sections having hooks whereby todetachably fasten them to one of the frame-pins, and provided with acavity with inclined forward ends to receive and be engaged respectivelyby the tongue, detachable means adapted to fulcrum on one of the pinsfor forcing the racks endwise, whereby to stretch the shoe bothlengthwise and laterally, and automatic means for locking the racks intheir adjusted positions.

6. The combination with a frame having three pins thereacross, onehaving gravitypawls pivoted thereon, of last-sections detachably hookedto one of the pins, rackbars slidably supported upon the bottom of theframe adapted to be locked by said pawls one having means for spreadingthe last sections apart, and the other having means for engaging theheel of the shoe to be stretched, and means cooperating with one of saidpins on said rack-bars, whereby the rack or racks may be forced endwiseby the swinging of the lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES Gr. MARKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

